Flour-bolt



(noModeL) M CLARK .FLOI'IR'BOLT. I

5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Patented Feb. 21, 1893.

(No Model.)

Q 5 Sheets-Sheet 3. M. W. CLARK.

- FLOUR BOLT.

Patented Feb. 21, 1899 M ya Jay}

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MYRON W. CLARK, OF PARMA, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, OFONE-HALF TO THE EDWARD P. ALLIS COMPANY, OF MIL- WAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

FLOUR-BOLT.

EPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 492,347, dated February21, 1893. Application filed November 18, 1886. Serial No. 219,319. (Nomodel.)

T0 at whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, MYRON W. CLARK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Parma, in the county of Jackson and State of Michigan, haveinvented certain new and useful I mprovements in Flour-Bolts, of whichthe following is a specification, reference being had therein to theaccompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a flour bolt containing my invention,parts of the casing being broken away to show the structure, part of thebolt cloth of the reel being omitted. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal verticalsection taken on dotted line 00 as Fig. 4. Fig. 3 is a verticaltransverse section. Fig. 4, is a rear elevation, parts of the casingbeing broken away. Figs. 5, 6, 7, 5 6 7 are detached views of thebearers, which support the cloth hoops or rings. Fig.8 is a transversevertical section of a modification. Fig. 9 is a vertical section on liney 3 Fig. 8.

The object of this invention is to utilize a much greater portion of thebolting cloth than is customary with slowly moving reels of the ordinaryconstruction; and it consists in certain new constructions andcombinations of parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.

AArepresent generally the frame-work and easing, within which theoperative parts of the bolt are located.

B is the central driving shaft mounted in suitable bearings and having abelt pulley fastened upon it. 7

Within the bolting cloth there is a closed drum or hollow cylinder whichI will describe. Of this drum, 0 is the head nearest the tail end, thatis the discharging end of the bolt. The drum head has a central sleevewith a set screw 0 for securing it to the central shaft,

' B. D is a similar head at the receiving end of the bolt, and which maybe secured to the shaft B, when desired, by a key or setscrew. E is ashell mounted upon the drum-head. which it fits closely at either end.This shell may be either sheet metal, wood, or other suitable material;and its surface may be either circular in cross section or ribbed orcorrugated as shall be desired or found advantageous according to thecircumstances of the case.

I will describe the structure of the reel which surrounds the drum. F isa short cylinder section or tube, supported at the head end of the bolt,into which opens a hopper or feed spout, a. f is a worm mounted on shaftB to feed the material from the hopper, a, through the tube section Fand thence into the reel. G g is the reel head at the receiving end ofthe bolt; 9 9 being arms which connect the centrally open flange portionwith a hub surrounding the shaft B, and secured thereto by set screw bor other equivalent device. At the tail end of the reel there isa ring,flange, or centrally open disk, I, with a rearwardly projecting flange2'; the outside diameter of the part I being the same as the outsidediameter of the reel head Gg. Thus the part I is adapted to serve as aseparate ring for one end of the bolting cloth. J is a hub mounted onshaft B to which it is sesured and preferably made adjustable thereon bya set screw, j, for a purpose which will be herein after explained. Ofcourse the hub and flange I are connected by means of spokes. 1070 areinclined arms projecting forward and inward from the flange I, to thedrum-head O, which arms may be made to partially support the saidflange. It is not indispensable that these arms should be integral withboth the ring and the drum-head. In fact, some of the adjustments can befacilitated by making these parts in two pieces, so that one can berotated about the central shaft independ ently of the other. K K arestay rods screw threaded at their outer ends and passing through thereel head G g and the flange I, to which parts they are firmly securedby means of nuts; there being by preference two nuts at either end, ateach of the stay rods, as indicated in Fig. 2. L L are elevators mountedon the stay rods by means of centrally open carriers surrounding thestay rods, part or all the carriers being provided with laterally pr0--jecting lugs, Z, for a purpose which will be explained.

The bolting cloth is indicated at M, and is supported intermediate ofits ends upon aseries of cloth hoops or rings NNwhenever the ICC lengthof the bolt is such as to make one or more supports of this characterdesirable.

In Figs. 1 to 7, each cloth ring is mounted upon the stay rods by meansof interposed bearers, each bearer consisting, in this in stance, of astirrup ring, n, the-circular part of which has an inside diameter alittle greater than the outside diameter of the stay rod, and has ascrew threaded hole in the outer angular portion. The saddle part N hasthe ends of its legs concaved to fit the stay rods. The hole in theupper flat part of the saddle registers with the screw threaded hole inthe angular part of the stirrup and receives a bolt or screw whichpasses through a countersunk hole in the cloth ring or hoop, wherebythese parts are firmly held together in proper working relation to eachother and to the stay rods. The bolting cloth at the tail end of thereel is turned down over the outer edge of the flange I, toward therearward projecting flange 71 against which it is clamped by a strap orband 0, or a cord or other suitable device.

At the forward or head end of the bolt and between the reel-head G g andthe casing there is a cloth tightener, consisting essentially of a metalring P, having a wooden ring p, attached to its front face to receivethe front end of the bolting cloth which is tacked thereto.

Although I propose to make the parts P, p of different materials, yetthey constitute essentially a single movable and adjustable ring, ofwhich the wooden part is specially adapted to have one end of thebolting cloth attached to it.

Q Q is a series of bolts, screw threaded at their inner ends where theyare seated in the reel head G g. Each bolt is provided with a flange orshoulder q, engaging with the inner face of the ring P through which theouter end of the bolt projects; so that by turning these bolts in theproper direction, the ring P p can be moved forward or outward from thereel head, and the bolt cloth thereby properly stretched; this clothtightener ring and the adjacent reel-head being of substantially thesame diameter as will be readily understood without further explanation.

R is a partition a short distance inside the tail end of the casing.This partition has a central opening to receive the rearward projectingpart 2', of the flange, and the space between the flange and thepartition may be packed with wool or its equivalent, to prevent leakageat this point.

The space between the partition R and the tail end casing, constitutes atailings chamber which is hopper bottomed as indicated in Fig. 4, andopens into a trap consisting essentially of revolving wings S S whichrun in close proximity to the surrounding walls, 3 sin such manner thatthe tailings are discharged downward through the spout '1", while thewings effectually intercept air currents which otherwise might passthrough the spout.

In setting up and operating this bolt, I propose to fasten the drumsecurely to the central shaft, then place the reel head G g and theflange I, loosely on the shaft; the elevators are then placed on thestay rods and the ends of the rods inserted in the reel heads and theflange, after which the reel heads and flange are firmly fastened to theshaft, B. Preferably I locate the head.G g with its flange part G aboutfive inches from the front end of the drum; and to prevent leakage Iattach a ring H h to the reel head. The ring is provided at its inneredge with a vertical flange h for this purpose and the space between thering and the shell F of the feeder is packed, as shown at V, preferablywith sheep skin having the wool attached, which fills the annular spacebetween the ring and the shell. When it is desired, the elevators may bearranged somewhat spirally relative to the bolting cloth and the drumbefore the reel head and ring are permanently attached to the centralshaft. In case the ring or flange I, and the inclined arms is 7c aremade integral with the drum-head O the spiral direction of the elevatorsmay be regulated by turning the reel head G g upon the shaft B. But whenthose parts are not made integral it may be found more convenient toregulate this spiral arrangement by turning the flange I and its hubupon the shaft after the reel head G g, has been secured to the shaft.When preferred, however, the arms it it may be omitted. By preferencethe bearers which are interposed between the cloth rings and the stayrods are so located relatively to the swinging carriers to which theelevators are attached, that the projecting lugs Z, of the carriers willengage with the bearers and limit the oscillation or swing of theelevators about the stay rods. The conveyers are driven from the shaft Bby means of chains or belts traversing sprocket wheels or pulleys asindicated in Fig. 1. When the bolt is in operation material is fed inthrough the hopper a, and thence through the shell, the worm, and theopenings between the arms g g, of the reel head to the bolt cloth. Asthe cloth, the elevators, and the drum revolve in the directionindicated by the arrow in Fig. 3, part of the material is caught by theelevators on the upward moving side of the bolt and discharged therefromon the outer surface of the drum, whence it is returned to the boltingcloth; some of it going over the drum and being delivered to the boltingcloth on the downward moving side of the bolt. Part of the materialwhich is carried over the top of the drum is delivered to the boltingcloth at a comparatively short distance below the highest point of thedrum; owing in part to the centrifugal action upon the material which isproducedby the rotation of the drum. It will be readily understood froman examination of Fig. 3 that the relative positions of the elevatorsand of the downward inclined surface of the drum are such as to greatlyfacilitate the bolting or sifting action, because they assist inproperly directing the material around the inner surface of the boltingcloth and in contact therewith not only upon the upward moving side ofthe reel but also upon its downward moving side. That is to say, asshown in Fig. 3, the elevators have their outer or free edges set awayfrom the cloth hoops sufficiently to afford a space between the clothand the elevators wide enough to permit a part of the chop or flour tofall back from the elevators to the cloth and to descend over theascending side of the reel. So too, a quite wide space is left betweenthe elevators and the drum, so that the elevators may not interfere withthe movement of material over the surface of the drum. The thickness ofthe cloth hoops and the covering applied thereto, as plainly shown inFigs. 2, 3 and 8, would of themselves give space sufficient for aconsiderable back fiow of material,-but the proper working of the reelis best assured by keeping the elevators out of contact with the hoops,which may be done by proper arrangement of the stops on the elevatorclips or cast lngs.

In operating this bolt, it will be found that with a proper speed ofrotation, say about thirty revolutions per minutefor a reel of thirtysix inches in diameter, the material will be sifted through the cloth onboth the upward moving side and the downward moving side up to a linedrawn horizontally through the reel about half way betwen its axis andits highest point. Thus nearly the whole area of the cloth will be madeavailable for bolting purposes.

While on some accounts I prefer to use a cylinder shaped drum,yetI donot wish to be limited thereto; because its surface might be corrugated,ribbed or troughed, as is sometimes done in this class of bolts. Nor doI wish to be limited to the use of a drum which rotates in the samedirection with the reel or at the same speed. I p

In Figs. 8 and 9, I dispense with the stay rods K K and the bearers I nfor connecting the reel heads and supporting the cloth, and use insteadthereof spiders TT firmly secured to the shaft 13 with bars U u attachedat their ends to the spiders by means of bolts 25 t or theirequivalents. These bolts may pass radially through the ends of thebarsinto the peripheral flanges of the spiders; or arms to the outerends of which the bars may be attached by means of bolts passing throughthe bars and the lugs on lines which are substantially at right anglesto the radial lines on which the lugs are formed. In either event thebars should have outward projections or lugs to which the cloth ringsare bolted or otherwise secured; and by preference the outer faces ofthese lugs are grooved to receive the cloth rings and thus assist insupporting them against displacement. In these figures there are also asimilar cloth tightening ring P p and adjusting bolts Q Q which havetheir inner ends seated in either the arms or.

the flange of the spider at the head end of the bolt. In thismodification the packing ring I-I his attached to and carriedby thecloth tightening ring Pp there being of course a suitable packingmaterial in the annularspace between the ring and the shell of thefeeder.

With the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 4, there is liability, in casethe cloth does not fit tightly to the flangeG of the reel head, ofmaterial passing between this flange and the bolt cloth, and thenthrough the ring into the conveyer and being mixed with material whichhas been bolted. To guard against such occurrence I propose to use asimilar packing ring in connection with and attached to the tighteningring as is indicated in the drawings at H; and where this last referredto packing ring is used it may be found 'advantageous to omit thepacking ring H h from the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 4. In otherwords, the packing ring H it may be made fast either to the reel head orto the tightening ring as preferred, but there is obviously noneed ofusing two such rings.

In the modified form shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the elevators L L areprovided with pivots w w at their ends, these pivots being seated andturning in the flanges of the spiders; the arrangement of the partsbeing such that the swinging edges of the elevators engage with thecloth hoops during part of each revolution of the bolt to pick upmaterial, and as they move upward they automatically tilt inward anddischarge the material upon the drum.

WVhile I have indicated a relative arrangement of these parts in Fig. 8which will operate satisfactorily under ordinary circumstances yet I donot wish to be limited thereby; itbeing apparent that the point in therotation of the bolt at which the-elevators will tilt inward anddischarge their load, may be varied by changing the positions of thepivots toward or from the center of the reel, as may be found mostadvantageous under any particular circumstances or conditions.

The cloth stretcher is not claimed by me, its subject matter having beenheld in an intert'erence proceeding to be public property.

The construction of parts shown in Figs. 8 and 9, is made the basis ofan application filed as a division of the present one, on the 25th dayof November, 1S92,Serial hid 153,075, and hence is not specificallyclaimed herein.

The feature of space between the edges of the elevators and the boltingcloth, is made an element of claims in another divisional applicationfiled by me on the 24th day of January, 1883, Serial No. 459,550, and isnot specifically claimed in this specification.

The subjects matter of claims 1 to 5 inclusive have been involved ininterference with an application of one Charles A. Smith, SerialNo.227,157,and with applications of one Zenas O. Eldred, whichinterferences were finally decided in my favor. The remaining claims inthis case involving matters not claimed by others, and the matter ofspace between the Ito . elevators and the cloth being declared to renderanother interference probable, the last mentioned division has been madein order that features and combinations as to which priority has beenawarded to me may be patented without further delay.

WVhat I claim is- 1. In a flour bolt the combination of a rotating reel,a drum within the reel, a series of elevators carried by the reel, andmovable relatively thereto, for the purpose of discharging material uponthe drum substantially as set forth.

2. In a flour bolt, the combination of a rotating reel, a drum withinthe reel, a series of spirally adjustable elevators carried by the reel,substantially as set forth.

3. In a flour bolt, the combination of a rotating reel, a drum within areel, and a series of elevators pivoted to the frame of the reel, andprojecting toward the drum substantially as set forth.

4.. In a flour bolt, a reel having two heads separately adjustablearound the reel shaft, stay rods connecting with the reel heads, andelevators mounted on the stay rods, substantiallyas set forth.

5. In a flour bolt, the combination with the reel and the drum, of aseries of elevators, and means substantially as described connecting theelevators with the reel, whereby, as the reel rotates, the edges of theelevators are moved away from the bolt cloth to permit material to passbetween the elevators and the bolt cloth on the downward-moving side ofthe bolt, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination in a flour bolt, of a rotating reel, a smooth drumwithin the reel, and a series of intermediate tipping elevators.

7. The combination in a flour bolt, of a rotating reel, a smooth drumwithin the reel,

tating reel, a smooth drumwithin the reel, and a series of spirallyadjustable tipping elevators carried by the reel, substantially as setforth.

9. In a flour bolt, the combination of a ro- 5o tating reel, a smoothdrum within the reel, and a series of elevators pivoted to the frame ofthe reel and projecting toward the drum, substantially as set forth.

10. In a flour bolt, the combination of a bolting reel, and a smoothinternal drum, a series of elevators, and means substantially asdescribed, connecting the elevators with the reel, whereby as the reelrotates, the edges of the elevators are moved away from the cloth on thedownward side of the bolt to permit material to pass between theelevators and the bolt cloth on the downward-moving side of the bolt,substantially as set forth.

11. In a flour bolt, the combination of a rotatable reel, a drum withinthe reel, a series of elevators between the drum and reel, and swingingcarriers for said elevators, provided with stops to limit theiroscillation and the consequent movement of the elevators.

12. In a flour bolt, the combination of a rotatable reel, a drum withinthe reel, and a S64 ries of elevators between the reel and drum, adaptedto be adjusted to and from lines parallel with the axis of the reel.

13. In a bolting reel, the combination of an external bolting cylinder,an internal drum, and tipping elevators between the bolting cylinder andthe drum.

14. In a bolting reel, the combinationof an external bolting cylinder, asmooth imperforate internal drum, and elevators between the reel anddrum, said elevators being set away from the drum.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in

